Israeli Invasion of Rafah to Worsen Gaza Catastrophe, Iran Warns

In a meeting held on the sidelines of a UN Security Council session in New York on Friday, Hossein Amirabdollahian and President of the International Committee of the Red Cross Mirjana Spoljaric Egger discussed the latest developments in Palestine.

Praising the ICRC for its efforts regarding Gaza and other parts of Palestine amid the dire humanitarian condition there, the Iranian minister said, “Unfortunately, the politicized, double standards and wrong approaches have so far made political efforts to stop the Gaza crisis inconclusive.”

Amirabdollahian stated that the developments in Gaza amount to a humanitarian catastrophe and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s threats to attack Rafah can deteriorate the situation.

Iran has always pursued the policy of restraint, he added, warning against the repercussions of the escalation of tensions.

For her part, the ICRC president expressed deep concern about the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and appreciated the political efforts of Iran to stop the conflict.

Highlighting the efforts by the ICRC to deliver aid and minimize the humanitarian suffering of people in Gaza, Egger said she would make her best to send humanitarian aids into the Gaza Strip.

She also expressed concern about the dangerous situation in Rafah and pledged to make efforts to prevent a humanitarian disaster.

Israeli forces have deployed more troops to areas adjacent to Rafah and destroyed agricultural land in the eastern areas of the district.

At least 10 people, many women and children, have been killed in Israeli air attacks on residential homes in Gaza’s Rafah city on Friday.

At least 34,049 people have been killed and 76,901 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7, 2023.